MENUWeekly Column
Each week a small segment of Vernon County history is published in the county papers.
For the week of 8/16/2026
by Kristen Parrott, curator
August is a busy month as summer winds down, and we have lots of activities going on.
The Military Mascots travelling exhibit from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum continues to be on display at the history center in Viroqua through Thursday, August 27. Come learn about the rooster that was adopted as a mascot by the 30th Wisconsin during the Civil War, and the rabbit named Billy “the Candy Eater” who served as a Wisconsin soldier’s mascot while training in Texas during World War I.
There are several stories in the exhibit about dogs serving as mascots for the U.S. military in WWII. More unusual animal stories include Charlie the monkey, adopted by the 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, during the Korean War, and Leaky the lion, adopted by the 32nd “Red Arrow” Division during the Berlin Crisis of 1961.
All of the museum’s exhibits can be visited during regular public hours of Monday through Friday, 11AM to 4PM, and Saturday, 10AM to 2PM. These hours last through the end of August. Beginning in September, we will be closed on Saturdays except by appointment.
A cemetery walk will be held at the South West Prairie Lutheran Church’s cemetery in rural Viroqua this Sunday, August 23, from 4 to 6PM. Guided tours will begin every 30 minutes. Seven costumed interpreters representing residents from the past will await you at their gravesites where they will share their life stories.
This local history event is a partnership between the Vernon County Historical Society and South West Prairie Lutheran Church. Suggested donation of $5 per person to attend. Lemonade and water will be served, and there will be a bake sale of Norwegian treats. In case of bad weather, the event will move inside the church. The address of the church and cemetery is S8466 Prairie Road. The location is west of Hwy. 27 where it connects Fargo to the north and Rising Sun to the south.
Our annual pork chop dinner will be held on Saturday, August 29, from 4 to 7PM or until the food is gone. This is a drive-through, carry-out event, with the meals picked up in the parking lot of the Vernon County Museum and History Center at the corner of S. Main and E. South Streets in Viroqua.
For $18, you will receive a meal of pork chop, baked potato, beans, coleslaw, roll, applesauce, and cookie. The pork chops are grilled fresh on-site, and all the food is prepared by local volunteers. All proceeds will help us to preserve and promote Vernon County history.
For the week of 8/9/2026
by Kristen Parrott, curator
The Vernon County Historical Society and the South West Prairie Lutheran Church are collaborating to host a cemetery walk on Sunday, August 23, at 4PM, at the church and cemetery, located at S8466 Prairie Road in rural Viroqua. Everyone is welcome to attend.
South West Prairie Lutheran is one of the oldest churches and cemeteries in Vernon County. Worship services were held in the homes of early settlers until a log church was built in 1858. The current South West Prairie Church building, constructed in 1900, will be open for visitors to view the 170-year-old wooden altar and the unique decorated walls.
There will be a suggested donation of $5 per person to attend the cemetery walk. Baked goods made from traditional Norwegian recipes will also be available for sale.
With the U.S. 250th in mind, the theme of the cemetery walk will be “We the People”. Seven people buried in the cemetery will be featured, six with Norwegian ancestry and one with English ancestors. All were farmers and community leaders with interesting life stories.
Soren Jerman (1812-1874) was one of the first settlers in South West Prairie. Soren will be portrayed by his 4th great-grandson Craig Woodhouse. Nils Bringe (1818-1906) chose to come to the U.S. from Norway to provide for his 10 children. Nils will be portrayed by his 4th great-grandson Armand Bringe. Paul Ekern (1915-1975) was a farmer and inventor in Sag City. Paul will be portrayed by his great-grandson Brooks Ekern.
Kenneth Hendrickson (1915-1989) will be portrayed by his nephew Ralph Hendrickson. Kenneth was a plumber and electrician, and he designed the Hendrickson A-Frame Tobacco Shed. A model was made of this shed, and the model was on display in the agriculture extension agent’s office in Viroqua for some years. Does anyone know what happened to this model?
Clarence Jerman (1918-1999) served in the army during WWII. Clarence will be portrayed by his grandson Seth McClurg. Genevieve Birkelo (1923-2024) taught in rural schools and was the principal at Seneca. Genevieve will be portrayed by her friend Lorna Crowley-Vento. And Keith Bankes (1928-2015) was a farmer and mechanic who built one of the first milking parlors in the area. Keith will be portrayed by his son Jody Bankes.
South West Prairie Lutheran Church and cemetery
will be the site of a cemetery walk on Sunday, August 23.
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